Dog-Friendly Resort Hotels at Disney World
Four Walt Disney World resort hotels are now permanently pet-friendly. This post shares details about WDW’s dog-friendly program, where to stay & avoid (if you dislike doggos), nightly costs, and what we think of this surprisingly controversial change.
As basic background, this started as a one-year pilot program in 2018 that was extended in 2019 with a quiet update to Walt Disney World’s FAQ page. As WDW’s dog-friendly hotel policy has been hugely controversial, we no longer expect this to be expanded to other resorts. Between the guest backlash and the switch from a pilot program to standard policy, what’s covered here is likely the permanent policy going forward.
From what we’ve heard, Walt Disney World was caught off-guard by the blowback to this policy, and given the low percentage of guests taking advantage of this program, it’s unlikely it was worth the initial blowback. At this point, it’s one of those, “what done is done” kind of things–and not worth reopening that divisive can of worms. What follows is current information about the dog-friendly policy, which will remain accurate through 2026…
The following four Disney Resort hotels have designated dog-friendly accommodations:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
Pet-friendly is a bit of a misnomer, as dogs are the only pets allowed, with a maximum of 2 dogs per room. All dogs are expected to be well-behaved, leashed in public areas and properly vaccinated.
Despite the dogs-only rule, it is worth referring to this as a pet-friendly policy in order to distinguish between dogs as pets and dogs as service animals. This policy concerns the former, whereas the ADA governs the latter. The same restrictions do not apply to service animals as what’s covered here.
Each Walt Disney World resort hotel has a very limited number of designated rooms that are dog-friendly for pet owners. This means that there are still 20+ hotels at Walt Disney World that do not accommodate pets, along with all of the rooms in those 4 hotels that are not dog-friendly.
It’s our understanding that roughly 250 rooms at Walt Disney World are pet-friendly. To put this into perspective, Walt Disney World has ~30,000 total rooms just in the Disney-owned resorts. The grand total number of pet-friendly hotel rooms is fewer than the total room inventory at Bay Lake Tower (which is not pet-friendly–it’s just the easiest comparison).
It’s also our understanding that the resorts with the most pet-friendly room inventory are Fort Wilderness and Art of Animation. The latter has pet-friendly rooms in Cars and Finding Nemo Family Suites, as well as the Little Mermaid standard rooms. Over at Fort Wilderness, select DVC Cabins and standard loops are pet friendly.
Below is each hotel’s per night/per room pet-cleaning rate is:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – $50/night
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort – $50/night
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort – $75/night
- Cabins at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Resort – $50/night
Each guest room will have easy access to outdoor pet walkways for exercise and green spaces with pet relief areas. Guests will also receive an amenity at check-in called “Pluto’s Welcome Kit” that includes a mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, courtesy plastic disposable bags, puppy pads, a doggie do not disturb door hanger, and dog walking maps.
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort also accommodates dogs, which is a longstanding policy. When booking your campsite, you may request a pet-friendly loop for an additional $5.00 per night plus tax.
If you make your reservations online, select the “Add” button in the “Room and Amenity Requests” section. You will then be able to request a pet-friendly loop. Please note: Pets are not allowed in pop-up trailers or tents. Fort Wilderness also offers the Waggin’ Trails Dog Park.
Again, the distinct between pets and service animals is significant. Other than service animals, dogs are not permitted in theme parks, water parks or common areas such as restaurants, pools and recreational spaces. It’s also worth noting that service animals are allowed at resort hotels where pets are not.
This being a change at Walt Disney World, of course it has been met with controversy. But honestly, we never anticipated the backlash to this when the pilot program was first announced…
As soon as Walt Disney World announced this change on the Disney Parks Blog, social media blew up. To be fair, a lot of the comments were of the positive and excited variety, but a disproportionate (in our estimation) number were outrage over this program.
I was honestly a bit taken aback by the comments expressing intense disapproval. Not because I think anyone who dislikes dogs is a heartless monster, but because it’s only four hotels. Moreover, it really isn’t some ground-breaking program. It was an inevitability given the larger hospitality industry.
While I can empathize with those who have pet allergies, this is a growing movement among hoteliers, and the practical reality is that service animals have been staying in hotels for ages, and if you didn’t notice an issue then, you probably won’t going forward.
If anything, the existence of service animals throughout Walt Disney World should undercut most complaints about select hotels and select rooms being pet-friendly. In the last decade, there’s been a proliferation of fake service dogs.
This is similar to the increased misuse and abuse of Disability Access Service (DAS), which got so bad that it was addressed by a crackdown and policy changes at Walt Disney World. The difference is that it’s more difficult for Disney to address fake service animals. Giving guests who really want their dogs to travel with them a legitimate means of doing so might actually help reduce the issue–or at least consolidate dogs into fewer resorts.
It’s impossible to say just how many fake service dogs there are at Walt Disney World, but answering that question is essentially irrelevant. The reality is that service animals (real or fake) already exist throughout Walt Disney World. Opening the door to pets with strict parameters at less than 1% of all guest rooms shouldn’t be make or break.
It’s not as if Walt Disney World is suddenly going to become Canine City, a lawless place overrun with dogs, fleas, and feces. What will prevent this (aside from rules, responsible pet owners, and a cleaning staff) is the fact that bringing a pet on vacation is prohibitively expensive and inconvenient for most guests. For a minority of visitors, that’s not the case, and this represents a nice option for them.
We know this because the concept of a pet-friendly hotel is not something Walt Disney World invented. It has been a growing trend in the hotel industry for the last several years (if not longer) and is a feature that is prominently advertised because people like–even non-owners.
In fact, Hotels.com indicates that around 25% of the hotels it lists are pet-friendly. Another report by Fortune shows the number as high as 60%. This is another reason why the outrage comes as a surprise. A growing number of hotels welcome pets, and not just the ‘run-down’ ones, either.
As those articles points out, W Hotels, Loews, Park Hyatt, and Kimpton welcome pets, as do other posh and trendy luxury hotels (an estimated 80% of luxury hotels are pet friendly). It’s also increasingly commonplace among boutique hotels and other segments of the industry, so it should really come as no surprise that Walt Disney World is finally catching up with this industry standard.
This is especially the case given that Walt Disney World has far greater latitude than the average hotel in simultaneously accommodating both pets and those with pet allergies. With each of the four hotels above either having multiple wings or separate satellite buildings, it’s easy for Disney to designate one section pet-friendly, and reserve those rooms for pet owners, while leaving the rest of the hotel ‘normal.’
Walt Disney World has indicated in its FAQ that this separation will occur with “Certain floors or sections of a hotel will be designated as dog-friendly, while the majority of areas will remain canine-free to accommodate Guests with allergies or other concerns.” (Given the ease with which Disney hotels can accommodate dogs while also accommodating others, we would be surprised if this pilot program does not expand to many additional hotels at Walt Disney World.)
That’s how it works at many other hotels in the world who welcome pooches, and the problems are not nearly as dire or widespread as the ‘sky is falling’ crowd on social media is anticipating. We spend a ton of time in pet-friendly hotels every year, and we’ve yet to have an issue with a barking dog or pet-soiled room. To the contrary, we rarely even see dogs in hotels, except for in hotels that are aggressively catering to dog owners. (Shorebreak Huntington Beach is a great choice if you want to see plenty of doggos on your vacation.)
Numerous other hotels have managed to figure this out (along with pretty much the entirety of Europe), so there’s already proof of concept on pet-friendly hotels. It can work. Hotels already do offer stays without incident for dog-owners and those who dislike dogs or have allergies. We don’t utter the “trust in Disney” cliche often, but this is probably a scenario where you can safely trust that Walt Disney World will be able to handle something that so many other hoteliers have done just fine with implementing.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our take on 4 Walt Disney World hotels becoming pet friendly? Are you concerned about allergies, noise, smell, cleanliness, or some other issue? Excited to see more dogs at Walt Dogsney World? 😉 Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
taking dogs to disney is a dream come true. we always worry about our dogs while on vacation. now we can take them with us and we know they will be taken care of. i cannot understand people being upset this way it will be a fun vacation for everyone.
315 sunrise ave
315 sunrise ave this is a dream come true for us. each time we take a vacation at disney world we are always worried about our dogs. this way we will know they are taken care of. i cannot understand that people would be against this. this way it can be a fun vacation for everyone.
[email protected]
I love this idea. I have 2 small dogs and it kills me to leave them when we travel. I get why people are not happy. First are the irresponsible pet parents who do not clean up after their pets outside. But what about the irresponsible parents who change their child and throw their diaper in The parking lot. I’ve seen it happen, and also seen old diapers just thrown anywhere. The 4 hotels have specific pet friendly rooms. Specific. They probably have all pet friendly rooms sectioned together and not scattered through out the hotel. So people who have allergies can stay in a different buildings not inhabited by dogs. Also I’m sure these rooms are only for pet owners, which means unless you have a pet, you won’t stay in a room where a number of pets may or may not have had accidents. Like I said, I’m excited for this. I get to be with my whole family while visiting my favorite place on earth.
I have a small dog that travels with me often, so I stay at a lot of pet friendly hotels (mostly Hilton brand). I have never once gotten a pet friendly room with dog hair, bad smells, or dubious stains on the floors. They all look and smell exactly the same as all the non pet friendly rooms I have stayed in. I can only imagine that Disney would be even more committed to maintaining the excellence of the rooms. Plus, if any of the complainers have ever actually been to a Disney resort, they would understand that buildings are spread out and those with allergies/aversions to dogs will most likely be able to request rooms far away from pet areas. I think a lot of people are worried over nothing.
The first time a guest gets bitten by one of these “friendly” dogs in the resort and Disney gets their pants sued off….you might see a policy change. To me it is just another way for Disney to squeeze more money out of the consumer.
My problem is some dog owners are irresponsible. I see owners allowing their dogs to boo boo all over without cleaning up. Many don’t seem to understand or respect that many people don’t like dogs.
Disney should put all the dogs in one hotel, end of story.
Dogs get 1 hotel and families with kids get 1 hotel. I’ve seen more times then I’d like to kids being changed in public places and irresponsible parents throwing diapers in the parking lot and missing trash cans at the resort. It’s like many parents don’t understand or respect other guests that may not have children.
If your best defence is to say “less children” your argument is very poor. Yes there are irresponsible parents but this is not abut them. I have only experienced one dog hotel and I was disgusted to see the owner carry a dog into the breakfast room while they went about getting their breakfast off the bench. This was despite signs. These are the owners I am worried about – they take their dogs everywhere and ignore rules. I am fine with those who follow the rules.
We use to go to the Art of Animation. We are never going back! Sad…Disney should buid a dog friendly resort…What a bad decision…My wife is allergic to dog…Even if you clean does change anything!
Although I love dogs, I can’t say how utterly disappointed I am to hear about Disney letting guests now bring in dogs. I go away on vacation to GET AWAY FROM MY NEIGHBORS RELENTLESS DOGS’ BARKING AND MESSING, so why on earth would I want it on my vacation radar?
Bottom line, owners can not control their dogs when they are left alone in a hotel room. And no matter how thorough you set out to clean, YOU NEVER GET AN AREA CLEAN once pets are staying in the room. And definitely not clean enough for asthma sufferers. And oh what fun it is to STEP on dog waste, and deal with that after your child has walked on your bedroom carpet or climbed into your car.
Solution? Disney can put up a kennel, where dogs can be housed and visited by their owners. There they can bark, pee, pooop and run to their little canine hearts delight. Problem solved.
Totally!! I get away from my neighbors and their screaming children, and I don’t want to hear that while I’m in my room too. Also agreed with the clean. You can never get things fully clean like when a child is being potty trained and has an accident, or they decide they don’t want to wear their diaper so they rip it off. Fully agree.
They way people vacation in Disney is completely different from most other vacations or trips. The vast majority of people spend most of their days at the parks meaning pets will be in an unfamiliar room alone for hours.As a dog owner my dogs would get very stressed in this situation. I can think of nothing worse especially for the dog and other guests. Let’s be realistic here, dogs can’t go to parks. Comparing to service dogs is completely different. Service dogs are with their owners during the day in the parks while pets will be stuck alone in the room. And why oh why did they choose AoA. It’s such a niche resort that is one of the only ones to suit many family with the suites. Very disappointing from Disney that this is so Ill thought out and looks like trying to make a quick buck but alienating so many customers.
I don’t think there is as much to be concerned about as everyone thinks. I am sure that owners that travel with their pets will take care of the area they are in, especially at Disney. But it is stated they will be assigned a pet relief area which I am sure is not near others that have no pets or normal walkways where the public is. Yes, I would love to travel with my dog, but to someplace where I can take him out of the room during the day. I am mostly at the parks or pool when at Disney so that might not be the optimal place to be with a pet. You can also add services, like dog walking, to you stay so that your fur friend is taken care of when you are gone. There are ups and downs to all new service additions so we will just have to stay calm and see what happens. I am sure if things do not work out, they will stop this service at certain hotels.
I feel so conflicted on this as I am a pet lover. But I also have a son that is allergic to dogs and is asthmatic so we try to be careful for him. We recently lost our chihuahua of 10+ years so I’m not a dog hater. We just took lots of precautions to help my son and dog coexist. We live in Colorado where you can’t turn around without tripping over someone’s dog because practically everyone has a dog. They are everywhere! The grocery store, restaurants, the mall and I’m talking pets not service dogs. We have even stayed in a hotel that was dog friendly, only to learn about it later after my son started getting welts all over and sneezing/wheezing because the room had not been cleaned well.
Anyway all that to say I am with the group that doesn’t agree with dogs at Disney. There are just so many lazy, uncaring dog parents. They let their dogs poop wherever they want and then don’t pick up after their pets, they allow them to bark or whine for hours on end, get on the beds, tear up things, etc. I also just feel terrible for the poor dogs being locked in a small strange room alone for hours on end. No matter how good a dog is at home, in an unfamiliar place they can get stressed and cause problems. IMO the family dog needs to stay home or in a kennel.
It’s just a lot of money to pay to go stay on Disney property and potentially have your stay disrupted by someone that feels their dogs comfort is more important than everyone else’s.
This. Exactly this.
Those who, with a condescending air, point to their argument of service dogs “never being a problem, therefore…” are forgetting that 1) service dogs HAVE BEEN WELL TRAINED to handle public facilities, and 2) people who need service dogs are in a VERY small minority compared to the vast majority of dog owners who thumb their noses at established rules at various public facilities and do not NEED their dogs with them.
Yes, the trend of dogs taking over hotels, etc. not a new phenomenon, but it’s one that is allergy sufferers are forced to navigate with alarming frequency these days, and in the face of a populace that seem to consistently put their pets’ needs above other people.
My soon-to-be husband and I are having our honeymoon next year at PO-Riverside and upon hearing the news about allowing dogs, I just hope Disney does it right. I have severe dog allergies and big fears of dogs due to being bitten several times, so hearing that dogs will be separated onto specific floors and areas is good news!
If this is successful, a brand new separate 100% dog-friendly resort would be an amazing idea! it could be themed after the dogs in Disney movies (Pluto, Goofy, Oliver & Company, Lady and the Tramp, Lilo and Stitch) it could have a leash-free park and a walking program so pooch and owner can be put at ease
I would be absolutely in favor of 1 or 2 resorts that are 100% dog friendly so that is allergy sufferers, and those who simply want to be separated from dogs, can enjoy their Disney vacation without having to worry.
I am a little concerned – most pet owners that travel with pets are great. That being said some aren’t. I would hope that the poop bags get used and hopefully there will be a place to put them away from general trash containers. Also we travel a lot and sometimes the poor animals are left in rooms for long periods of time alone and will bark a lot. Also an issue is potential aggressive dogs – hopefully owners are honest with themselves about that and the issue of allergies for my family is a concern. I hope it works out for everyone !!!!
I trust that Disney is not booking folks with allergies into the reserved blocks of rooms, and the resorts are certainly big enough to accommodate. This is a future-thinking decision, and the rooms will only be utilized by those, as mentioned, who can afford the cost and who can afford to travel with their dogs. I am deathly allergic to cats, but I am fine with cats in hotel rooms that I will never stay in. I am positive Disney will be thoroughly cleaning the rooms. Don’t like it? Don’t stay there, or ask to stay in another wing if you happen to love one of these hotels. I do agree with something Terry said – sometimes, the pet owners are worse than the pets. Not always, though – most pet owners I know are very responsible. Reminder that there will be a certain amount of noise on a kid-friendly vacation, anyway. At any rate, I stay at Kimpton hotels all the time for business travel. Great hotels. 🙂 Never had a problem, and I stay in the pet-free/allergy rooms.
I was upset because I booked my reservation in april for December for a pet free resort! If I had known I would not have booked AOA! I am allergic but also petrified of dogs from an attack when I was younger! I called Disney and changed my resort! I feel Disney should have given more notice on the pet friendly so people had the opportunity to change resorts if they want to! There are people with pets that want a pet friendly resort and I am sure are unable to switch resorts with such short notice! So sad for both if you booked your reservation months ago!
Whoever I’ve traveled with my dog, we were confined to the 2nd floor and guests without dogs occupied the rest. Tom is right – it’s really no big deal. Unless you’re me and wanted a suite.
I’m not a fan of the idea. I have a dog whom I love, but wouldn’t take to Disney World, for a couple reasons off the top of my head. I wouldn’t want to leave my dog couped up for 10 hours or more. Even if I took a break in the middle of the day went back to the resort and let my dog out for a bit, I still feel like that’s keeping her cooped up in a small space for too long. I want to be on vacation and relax, not think about my dog back in the hotel room. We hire people to come over and let our dog out so that she can stay at home when we’re on vacation. Even if I boarded her at our vet they would let her out more often than once a day. There are other options than bringing the dog to Disney World. On top of that I feel like it’s inconsiderate to other guests. What if there is a dog that barks, whether it’s during the day when someone’s trying to take a nap or at night? That’s not something that Disney can control. I personally don’t want to be walking along at the resort and get a whiff of dog crap coming from the dog rest area. Overall, I think it’s unnecessary to allow dogs unless it’s a service dog.
As in most cases, it isn’t the lovely pet owners who follow the rules and respect the policies in place so that pets may join their families on vacation that presebt a down side to this new policy, it’s the irresponsible, dishonest pet owners that make ideas like this so undesirable for others. I have first hand seen “service type” dogs at AoA defecating right outside the hotel door and along the walk path, and the owners just kept on walking. We also watched a “service” pet outside at the food court area sniffing all around the surrounding tables, trying to jump up on the seats of others in an attempt to get food, and showing much attention to the little kids who walked by. I’ve always thought service animals to be trained and taught not engage in such behavior when they are with their owner. The question becomes, who will be policing and enforcing the policies and who will make sure it doesn’t become a problem for other guests (with or without pet allergies)?
I was reading comments and they all disappeared!
Just a heads up. We stayed at Pop Century during Irma and they were allowing dogs in any rooms. So when staying there, you need to know that there could of been dogs in your room. We stayed in a newly remodeled room. There was lots of barking and at least one room by us had four dogs in it. I love dogs but I think if Disney wants dogs to stay on property, build one resort that is dog friendly.
I like your idea of a separate dog friendly resort!
That was an emergency situation, and Disney was following the plea from the governor for hotels to please temporarily open their rooms to pets, because many Floridians won’t evacuate if that means leaving their pet in danger at home. Tom stated in an earlier article that the resorts were filled with Floridians taking the available rooms left over from people canceling vacations. If that meant 4 dogs barking in a room, well… better noisy than drowned. It was stated in the article that the limit is 2 dogs, and only in certain buildings/wings, so your experience is unlikely to be repeated unless you stay at Disney for another hurricane.
I am so disappointed in Disney! We booked our trip 10 months ago for our 40th Anniversary with our children and grandchildren at Art of Animation (Cars), now we find out dogs are to be allowed! We do not like the smell of dogs in rooms or how inconsiderate dog owners are , and no matter what you say about cleaning well and no barking etc, it still is not right and dog dander is all over!! This is not fair to us that have booked and paid BIG bucks for a great vacation! People should not bring dogs to Disney unless it is a service dog!Dogs can not go in the parks…..I hope Disney never makes that decision to let that happen!
I wouldn’t worry about the smell or dander; I’m sure Disney will only allow certain rooms to house the dogs. Ask for a room away from this area. Enjoy your trip! 🙂
I feel like most of these people aren’t even reading the article, where it clearly states dogs will be limited to specific areas of each resort. It’s not like they’ll be putting dogs in the next empty room!
Unfortunately, dogs cannot read the rules. While the majority of owners will follow the guidelines, it will only take the few who think and act as they are above to rules to negatively impact the vacations of many. And there WILL owners like that, just like there are parents who believe the rules do not apply to THEIR children. Sadly, we have a society where ever increasing numbers of people believe that they can and should behave exactly how the please with no consideration for those around them. We love dogs and own two chocolate labs that are “family” to us. We love our children and grandchildren too and have enjoyed trips to WDW with them. So it’s not a matter of disliking dogs (or kids), it’s a matter of realizing that there will be irresponsible owners and this may impact our vacation in a negative way. It’s just not a good idea.
Unbelievable!
Just stay in one of the many other Disney properties if it bothers you that much! Chances are if it wasn’t announced all these complainers wouldn’t have even noticed it happened! And for those who say it’s cruel to have a dog in a hotel room,…. is it better at a kennel in s crate? Cmon! Dogs are everywhere and part of people’s families and nobody’s asking those with allergies to visit their dog friendly rooms!!! Just go enjoy your vacation or give up staying at the most magical place to boycott Disney having joined the rest of the hospitality industry and welcome dogs!!! Get over it! Just go live your life and enjoy being alive!
You are so right. Most of us love our pets like children and keep them clean and germ free. We don’t bring them into eating areas. We just don’t want to kennel them while away. Mine is a rescue and has suffered enough. He had more shots than humans to protect him.
Why would you subject your dogs? It mean. They get left alone all day copped up in a little room having to hold their bladders, then when the family comes back at night they want to play and the family wants to sleep, no fun for the dog and you would hardly see you puppies. They would be a lot happier at home.
I’m with you. Reading some of these comments on here I don’t even see how these people leave their homes.
We stay at either the Yacht or Beach Club every year because we love the location and the pool. Had I known this was coming 7 months ago when I made reservations, I would have booked the Beach Club Resort instead of the Yacht Club Resort. But now, less than 40 days out, there is no availability at the Beach Club Resort. So our options for our anniversary trip are: 1. Try to switch to a resort we really don’t want to stay at or 2. Stick it out and hope it turns out better than we expect and not worse.
A little more advance warning would have been more considerate and appreciated.